Automatic sheet separating and feeding mechanism



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E. T. WATERS AUTOMATIC SHEET SEPARATING AND FEEDTNG MEHANIsM Filed Jan. 5. 1921 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 I 'M/TEKST @Tw @my (9 @ff/wijf Patented ll'ec. 25, i923.

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EDWTARD T. 'UTERS, 0F OM'AHA, NEBRASKA.,

AUTOMATIC SHEET SEPARATING AND FEEDNG MECHANISM.

Application filed January 5, 1921.

State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Sheet Separating and Feeding Mechanism,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to mechanism for H separating single sheets of paper from a pile thereof. and for carrying the separated sheets to a definitely gaged position, whereby to automatically feed a printing press or the like. It is the general object of my inla vention to provide a simple, durable and ellicient mechanism of this kind, wherein the means for performing the various sub-functions are so constructed, arranged and correlated that by a few simple adjustments the.

same maybe adapted for handlinlr sheets of all sizes within the capacity of t e mechanism. More particular objects of my invention are to provide an impelling device comprisingI rollers which directly engage the top of a pile of paper and which are movable to produce a progressive wave-formation in the sheets at the upper part of the pile, whereby said sheets tend to be spread or tanned out and the topmost sheet carried :in into position to be engaged by feeding-rollers which withdraw it from the pile; to provide a movable table or follower for supporting the pile of paper and progressively lifting the same as the sheets are removed 35 therefrom. the follower being actuated by la spring 'of which the compression is automatically varied according to the variation of the load during the travel of the follower, whereby to maintain a constant pressure be- 40 tween the paper and the impelling rollers;

to provide means 'for i varying the power ratio between the follower and the actuating spring, whereby a uniform,movement of the follower may result from expansive movements of the spring which are varied according to the weight of the load upon the follower at the beginning of its movement; to provide means for varying the compression of the follower-spring according tothe desired pressure between the paper and the gmpelhng-rollers, and independently of the variation of compression. of said spring to compensate the varying load upon the follower ,during its movement; to provide 55 means for preventing the withdrawal or par-k. vtial withdrawal of the second sheetfroni Serial No. 435,212.

action of the sheet-impelling means after the top sheet of the pile has been engaged b v the feed-rollers, and for again starting the action of the sheet-impeller when the sheety is removed from the feed-table; to provide throw-oil' mechanism for preventing the making of an impression by a printing-press with which the feeding mechanism is connected, whenever a sheet is not in proper gaged position upon the feed-table so as to be carried to proper position upon the platen prior to the impression; to provide means in connection with said throw-off controlling mechanism whereby to prevent removal of a sheet from the feed-table unless the sheet is in proper gaged position thereon: to provide means for resetting the throw-oit1 mechanism, whereby to resume the normal operation of the press as soon as a sheet has been carried to proper position upon the feed-table; and to provide certain other desirable structures and combinations as will be fully set fort-h hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. l is a side elevation of a printing press equipped with automatic sheet-separating, feeding and controlling mechanism embodying my invention, Fig. 1^ is a diagrammatic representation of the electrical circuits of the throw-off and sheet-impeller controlling de l lar view of the left. half of the feed-table,

Fig. (i is a detail plan view of the followerframe and actuating mechanism, Fig. 7 is a detail vertical sectional view on the line 7 7 of Fig. '5, showing in side elevation the controlling devices for the throw-ott mechanism. and a part of the control devices for starting the sheet-impe'lling 'inechanism, Fig. 8 is a similar view showing in a clifferent postion some of the parts illustrated in Fig. 7, Fig. 9 is a detail side view of one of the sheet-impelling devices, Fig. 10 is a vertical section of the same on the line 10- 10 of Fig. 1l, Fig. l1 is a partial transverse ies4 . for a 'more detailed description ot the till Flll

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section of the saine, on the irregular line 11-11 of llig. 10, Fig. 12 is a detail section pf the throw-olif ree-setting cam on the line 'l2-12 of Fig. 1, Fig. 13 is a detail side view w ofthe throw-oli' cani mechanism, Fig. le is a detail stion of the saine on the line lll- 14 of Fig. 13, and Fig. 15 is a detail section 'in the line 15-15 of Fig. 13. i

lin the drawings, the sheet-separating and feeding devices are illustrated as applied to a printing press wherein there, is employed a cylindre-segmental platen mounted to oscillate about a fixed axis eccentric to the axis ot curvature ot' the platen face, the platen -coacting with an. oscillating 'bed of which the principal motion is received from cranks carried at the end of a main drivingshazt't making one revolution to each cornplete operation of the press. A press of the character above mentioned is disclosed in Letters Patent No. 1,360,063, issued to me November 28, 1920, to which reference is had ress mechanism than is herein contained. et-

' ere'nce is also had to my copending' application tor patent on paper feeding and delivering" mechanism, liled lecerober 6, 1920, Serial No. 428,752, wherein there are ernployed gripping devices mounted upon the' o'scillatingplaten and movable relatively thereto to seize sheets upon the leed-table, to carry the sheets onto the platen, to hold the sheets on the platen during lthe printing operation, and to deliver the printed sheets prior to seizingr another sheet from the 'feedtable. The mechanism forming the subject matter et the present application is adapted :tor use in connection with gripping devices ofthe character shown in my' said cti-pending application, and certain portions or' said sheet-gripping and delivering mechanisrn, which directly coact with the sheetseparating, feeding;r and controlling devices, areshown herein and will be hereinafter referred to.

liu the illustrated structure, the main leed-table l is mounted ixedly upon side trame-members l?, which have oil-set or shouldered portions resting upon horizontal urine 18 lormed integrally with and extending forward :troni the rnain traine 19 of the printing press. rlfhe 'feed-table 16 is slightly inclined rearwardly, and at its rear edge there is pivotally connected therewith al plate which is slotted to form a series of lingers 2O termiHating` adjacent to the front edge ot the platen 2l when the latter is in the: delivery and leed positions thereof. The lower portions o'f the side frame-members -17 extend down between the supportingl -arms' 18 and carry the chute 22 and adjustable paper-receiver 28. tor the printed sheets deliveredfrorn the platen.

A plate 24e, formed integrally with e feed-table 1S, entends downwardly and Llornei/aces wardly from the front edge of said table, the lov/er portion of said plate 221 being .connected with brace-arms 25 which extend forward from the side frame-members 17. At each side of the plate2d is secured a channel-bar 26, which extends parallel with the iront side of the plate and forms a track or guideway for wheels 27 by which the follower is supported so as to be freely movable up and down adjoining the face ot said plate. The follower comprises a frame 28 ot which the 'forni is best shown in Figs. 2 and 6, the rear portion ol' saidfrarne extending transversely across the plate 24 and having the Wheels 27 mounted on suitable studs at the sides thereof, and the upper portion of the frame extending forwardly from the plate 2e, the front portion of the frame being covered by a thin plate 29 Which extends in a plane parallel with the feed-table 16.

djoiningrthe plate 24 the upper side of the l'ralne 28 is recessed transversely to receive a strip 30 ot resilient material7 the ,upper surface of said strip 3() being alineol with the surface of the plate 29, whereby to form a substantially continuous plane surface on which is disposed the pile A. of paper to be fed to the press. T he pile of paper is conlined laterally by inclined guides 31 having toot-portions which rest upon the top of the vfollower and are secured thereto by screws and Wing-nuts 32, the screws extending down through transverse slots 33, whereby the guides may be adjusted transversely.

@n the rear central portion of 'the follower-frame is a lug Se which. extends back through a slot in the plate 24:, and to said lug is connected a small flexible cable 35 which extends therefrom upwardly and around a pulley 36 mounted on the rear side of the plate 24. From said pulley 36 the cable is extended laterally to a pulley 37 mounted on one of the side frame-members 17, and from the second pulley'the cable extendsvdownwardly and is connected with a conntervveight 38 varranged slidably Within a vertical casing; 39. rlhe counterweight 38 is so proportioned as to substantially balance the weight of the lixed load formed by the follower together with the actuating devices carried thereon, but excluding the variable load formed' by the pile il. of paper. ln `the rear portion of the follower-trarne a transverse sha-ft l0 is mounted revolubly, and near the ends ot said shalt pinions 41 are secured thereon, said pinions meshing operatively with racks l2 arranged in channels in the plate 24 and extending; parallel with the front face thereof. sna'lt -O near one of the pinions l1 there is secured a small pulley 43, and to said pulley is connected one end of a ilexible tape or strap ed. |lFhe other end of said strap is connected Witha slide-block held in ,guide flti which. is secured to La'zaaee the followent'rame so that the slide-block is movable t'angentially of the pulley. A floating' lever 47 is arranged beneath the follower-frame as best shown in Fig. 6, said lever having pairs of rollers 48 at the edges thereof. and said rollers engaging guides il?) and 5U on the frame, the guides being so arranged that the lever is movable in a plane parallel with the slide-block guide 46.

n flat link or har 5l has the ends thereof pivotally connected with the slide-block 45 and with one end of the floating lever, as shown. Near the opposite end of the lever the same carries a roller 52 which is movi-i able longitudinally in a slot 53 in the frame. Adjacent to the latter end of the lever a rod :El is pivotally connected therewith, said rod extending forwardly from the lever and passing slidably through the end of a cylindrical cap which is threaded externally and screwed through an opening in the front flange of the follower-frame. A coil spring 5G is disposed around the rod 54, one end of said spring bearing against a collar l5 at the pivoted end of the rod, and the otherl eno of the spring bearing against the cap\ 55. A portion of the floating lever, adjacent to the endearrying the roller 52, is slotted longitudinally, and in said slot there 3U is slidably disposed a block 57. The block is held in the slot, and is adjustable longitudinally thereof, by means of a threaded opening in the block, the endportions of said rod 58 being revolubly mounted in the lever, and one end of the rod carrying a hand-wheel 59 by which the rod may be turned to adjust the position'of `the block in the slot. On the block 57 there is revolubly mounted a roller 6() which extends into a slot formed in the follower-fratrie adjoining the lover, said slot in the frame being parallel with the slot in the lever when the lever is in the normal position shown in Fig. rllhe pinions All are so engaged with the racks 4Q that the floating lever is in the normal position above mentioned when the followeiI is at the upper limit of its travel. ltlovement ot' the follower downwardly, from said upper limit of its travel. causes rotation of the pinions Lll and :shaft llll in a direction suoli as to wind the st rap upon the pulley 43, whereby the floating lever is pulled rearwardly at the end which is Connected by the link 5l with the slide-blo -h 45. rlhe lever moves pivotallj,Y about they fulcrum formed by the roller oo, at the. point where, said roller rests in the slot iu the frame` and by said pivotal movement' of the lever the spring .'t is compressed, while the roller 52 is moved longitudinally of the slot It will be seen that during a full stroke or movement of the follower from the upper to the lower limit of its travel, the Inovetit) .rod 55% which is screwed through a central:v

ment of the floating lever at the end connected with the slide-block 45 will be the same, no matter what may be the position to which the fulcrum-bloek 57 is adjusted. At the other end of the floating lever,l however, the extent of the movement will be dependent upon the position of the 'fulcrunn so that the extent to which the spring 545 is compressed, during the downward stroke dll. the follower, may be varied as desired by turning the hand-wheel 59 to vary the longitudinal position of the fulerum. reactive pressure of the spriner 5G against the floating lever tends, of course, to cause an upward movement of the follower, but the compression of the spring, if any, when the follower is at the upper limit of itsy The movement will be the same for all positions to. which the fulorum may be varied, hecause the lever is then at the normal position in which the slot therein for the ful- 'crum-bloek 57 is parallel with the slot in the frame in which the fulorum-roller 60 is engaged. From the for egoing it may be seen that the described mechanism constitutes a variable counterbalanemg means whereby the A*variation of weight of a diminishing pile of paper upon the follower may be automatlcally compensated while the follower is 'noved upward at a rate such as to maintain level.

`oe top of the pile of paper at a constant- It may also be seen that the automatie counter-balancing means is readily adf justable to balance the weight of a pile of sheets of any size within the capacity of the mechanism, the required adjustment being merely the shifting of the floating-lever fulcrum to a point at which the spring 56 is sufficiently compressed to sustain the load formed by a pile of the sheets equal in height to the vertical movement of the follower in going to the upper limit of its travel, said limit being reached when the top face of the follower is at the level at whieh the paper sheets are renioved from the top of the pile.

Adjacent to the. front edge of the main feed-table lll, bearings (il are mounted on the side fran'ie-uieuibers 17, and in said bearings a shaft G2 is revolubly mounted, said shaft being driven as hereinafter des rl`he intermediate portion of said shaft (32 is provided with a spline 63, and upon said portion of the shaft there are mounted two or more of the sheet-separating paper-impellers of which the detailed structure is shown in 'Figs 9; l0 and 1l. Each of the in'ipellers has a central wheel 64- which tits slidably upon the shaft and the spline (S3, being held by the spline in fixed rotative relation to thek shaft. The peripheral portion of the wheel 64 has thereon a plurality of lugs which i are uniformly scribed.

spaced oiroumferentially and intensa the weight) of the pile of paper. By making the adjustment of the floating-lever fulcrum to properly balance the Variable load (or paper load) when the counterbalance spring has no initial compression at the normal position of the lever; and afterward adjusting the spring-compression to effect the impeller-pressure; the latter may be changed at any time by merely screwing the cap 55 in or out, without stopping operation of the mechanism, and the correct pressure for the particular paper stock gaged by direct observation of the effects of the adjustment -upon the operation of the mechanism.

As a result of the rearwardly progressing wave-formation which the ,impelling-rollers cause in the upper portion of the pile of paper'7 the sheets are separated and moved rearwardly, the upper sheet moving most rapidly and the amount of movement imparted to the sheets decreasing rapidly at successive depths in the pile, there being no movement of the sheets at a depth beyond 'that to which the wave-formation extends. rlhe upper edge of the plate 241, at the corner formed by its juncture with the main feedtable 16, is roundedv to conform substantially with the curve which the rear edge of the pile of aper tends to assume under the action of) the impellers, as approximately indicated in Fig. 2. When the follower' is near the upper limit of its travel, so that only a few sheets of the pile'remain thereon, the continued formation of wares therein, by the pressure of the impelling-rollers, is enabled by the strip 30 of resilient material which extends across the follower ladjoining the rear edge thereof, said strip forming beneath the bottom sheet a yielding cushion in which the Waves are propagated to the extent necessary to cause movement of the pa er.

eneath the front edge of the main feedtable 16, immediately behind the plate 24, there is arranged a transverse shaft 77 car rying a plurality of short-rollers 78 which extend up through slots in the feed-table, thediameter of the rollers being such that their peripheral portions project very slightly above the surface of the table. irectly above the shaft 77 there is a shaft 79 which extends over the table and is journaled in bearings 80, 81 and 82 mounted on the side frame-members, the bearing 82 projecting out laterally from the frame to support an extended portion of the shaft, as shown in Fig. 4. On said shaft 79, between the bearings and 81, are secured rollers 83 around which are passed endless beltsor tapes 84, the same being arranged at positions above the lower rollers 78, and being pressed against the same by the rollers 83. The tapes extend rearwardly over the feed-table and pass around rollers 85 carried upon a shaft 86. The ends of said shaft are journaled in arms 87 arranged above the lateral edges of the feed-table, the'front ends of said arms being pivotally connected with the shaft 79 adjoining the inner ends of the bearings 80 and 81. In the intermediate portions of the arms 87 are adjusting-screws '88, of which the lower ends engage `the table, and which thus support the arms so that the same may be slightly raised or' lowered relative to the table. Uniform tension of the belts or tapes 84; is maintained by means of idlerrollers 89 which rest upon the upper portions of the tapes adjacent to the rollers 83, the idlerrollers-being carried at theforked front ends of arms 90 mounted pivotally upon a rod 91 which extends across the feed table above the intermediate portion thereof. The shaft 79 is connected with the press mechanism so as to be driven continuously during operation thereof, and in the construction shown the driving connections are as follows: On the end of the shaft adjoining the Outrigger bearing 82 there is secured a pulley 92 which is connected by a crossed belt 93 with a drive-pulley 94, the latter being carried on a small shaft 95 journaled in the gearguard 96 which houses the drive-gear 97 for the main-shaft 98 of the press. The shaft 95 carries a pinion 99 which meshes with the gear 97 so as to be driven thereby I On the shaft 79 adjoining the outer end of the bearing 81 there is secured a small pulley 100 which is connected by a belt 101 with a pulley 102 mounted loosely upon the impeller-shaft 62, as shown in Fig'. 4. The pulley 102 forms one member of an electromagnetic clutch, of which the second member is an armature-disk 103 secured upon the end of the impeller-shaft.- Insulated collector-rings 104 at the inner side of the pulley clutch-,member 102 are engaged by brushes 105 mounted on the eframe, said rings 104 being connected with and form# ving the terminals of a suitablecoil 106 inclosed within the clutch-member 102. Closing of an electric circuit through the coil 106 .causes the armature-disk 103 to adhere to thel` pulley-member 102, so that-the impeller-,zhaft 62 is ldriven thereby when the circuit is closed, but remains stationary when the clutcheconnection is released upon. the openingr of the circuit. For controllingv the magnetic clutch circuit there is provided a switch which is arranged to be closed by the movement of; the papergripping devices into position for seizing a sheet upon the feed-table, said switch being vbiased to open position but being held in closed position by a detent which is released by the ent of a sheet ofpaper between the feed-rollers 78 and 83. Themovable member of the clutchf circuit switch is an arm 107 wh lch is mounted on one end of a small shaft" 108 pJivoted in a bearing 109 adjacent to the bearlng 80 'feed-table.

for the shaft 79. Insulated contacts 110 are mounted on an upward extension of. the

Abearing 8() and are engageable by an insulated contact-plate on the armlOT, 'A shouldered rod 111 is pivotally connected with a lug 'on the hub of the arrn 10T, and. extends slidably through a guide 112 on the traine. Upon said rod 111 is disposed a coil spring ot' which one end engages the C guide 112 and the other end presses against which normally extends rearwardand downward, between the adjacent ends ofthe rollers 83. into a recess termed in the 'feed-table the end of the finger resting upon a. plate 1.1.6 secured on the lower side of the table shown in Fig. 2. i Said finger thus lies in the path of the sheets oi" paper which are projected by the impelling devices into engagement with the feed-rollers, and which, upon being seized by the feed-rollers, are propelled rearwardly `thereby across the The rear edges oi" the paper sheets engage the trip-linger 115 iinnicdil atcb-'after passing between the feed-rollers,

and litt said finger until the rear end thereot is slightly above the surface of the feed'- table. thereby turning the rocking-shaft 11e.-

sufficiently to disengage the sear 113 from the lip on the switch-arm hub. and thus releasing' 'the switch so that the same inay open the clutch-circuit and stop the actuation ot the impeller-shaft. The described devices for holding; the switch in closed position. and tor releasing the sanne toluenable Inovernent thereof to open position'fare necessarily sutiiciently delicate and sensitive to readilyenable the releasing operation to be etl'ectedby engagement of the paper with the trip-finger v1,15.

l In the electrical circuit'controlled by the switch 107 there is included a solenoid 117 which is arranged beneath the laterally projecting upper flange 'of one ot the side trarne- Inembersl'. Said solenoid has a movable core 118 which is carried at, the rear end of an arm 119, said arin being secured upon one end of a shaft 120 extending transversely beneath the front portion of the feed-table. To said shaft 120 there are secured a pair of rods 121 'which extend upwardly 'from the shaft through openings in the table, thence extending forwardly above the upper 'feed-roller shaft 79 and the iinpeller-sha'ft 62, turningdownwardly in front ot the irnpeller-shaft, and errtent'ling forwardly be- ,engages and lifts the trip-linger 115,

reet/snee neath the rod 73 and approximately parallel with the top of the pile of paper on the follower. A cross-rod 122 extends transversely between said rods 121, the cross-rod having at the ends thereof T-heads 123 which tit slidably upon the rods 121 and are secured in longitudinally adjusted positions thereon by screws 12-1. 0n the cross-rod two or more lingers are mounted slidably, said lingers being held in adjusted 'positions thereon by screws 126. rllhe lingers 125 are so arranged as to rest normally upon the pile of paper on the follower, and the cross-rod is adjusted upon the rods 121 .topa position such that the ends of the lingrs will engage the second sheet of the pile at points just infront oit top sheet. when the latter rearwardly by theI inipelling-rollers lfar enough to be seized by the 'feed-rollers. The tips ot the lingers 12:3 are formed by or covered with a material' such as rubber, whereby to friction-ally engage the paper. 7iifhen the clutch-circuit-is closed to cause the actuation ot the iinpeller-shatt, the solenoid 117 is energized and the core 118 is the front edge ot the.-

has been moved l thereby pulled downwardly, so that the rods y' 121 are thereby raised sufficiently' to litt the fingers 125 out ot contact with the paper, and said lingers are thus prevented troni retarding thel Inoveinent ot the paper caused by the iinpelling-rollers. After the top sheet of the pile has been moved tar enough to be seized by the feed-rollers, and said sheet so that the clutch-circuitis thereby opened as'before described, the solenoid 117 becomes de-ener-l gized simultaneously with the clutch, an

the .tingers 125 are thus dropepd into err' gagenieut with the paper, The engagement of the fingers with the second sheet ot the pile prevent s said sheetI being, carried between the feed-rollers by the frictional engage..

nient between. the second sheet and the first sheet. as the latter is carried rearwardly by the feed-rollers at'ter the progressive movenient ot the impelling-rollers has ceased.

After ay sheet a o't'paperhas been seized by tht` feed-rollers it is positively actua-ted thereby, the rear portion of the sheet passing back over the 'feed-table beneath the tapes 84 passed between the feed-rollers, the sheet is carried on by the frictional engagement of the tapes therewith. The rearward move- .niento the sheet is stopped by `frage-fingers 127 which are normally in Contact with theA and after the entire sheet hasr table-lingers 2() near the rear ends thereof."fr

The gage-fingers are carried at the ends of rods 128 which are held adjustably in heads 129, the front, end-portions of the rods being: threaded to receive adjusting-nuts 130, and coil springs 131 being disposed on the rear portions of the rods and pressing the saine rearwardly so as to hold the nuts 130 against the frontv ends of the heads 129. vNear the front ends of said heads 129 the same are pivotally connected with blocks 132 so as to he tiltable, relatively thereto. Said blocks 132 are slidable transversely ofthe feed-table, bein,T mounted upon the squared intermediate portion of a shaft 133 which is carried by bearing-standards 134 on the rear portions of the side frame-members 17. The blocks are retained at. transversely adjusted positions upon said shaft 133, by means of balls 135 which are held in the rear portions of the blocks and pressed against the rear side of the shaft by means of small coil springs 136, the side of the shaft having shallow recesses therein into which the balls fit. when the blocks are in positions such that the gage-fingers are alined with the tabletingers 20. Angle-lugs 137 on the upper rearward portions of the blocks 132 extend above the rear portions of the heads 129. and

springs 138 are arranged between the heads and the upper horizontal portions ot the lugs, the springs being retained in position by screws 139 passing down through the lugs. V Said springs normally hold the heads down onto the rear portions of the blocks 132. but enable an additional rotative movement of the blocks and the shaft 133 in a direction tending to move the gage-fingers downward, and beyond the normal position 'at which the gage-fingers first engage the table-fingers 20. At the end of the shaft 133 an arm 140 is secured thereto, said arm having at the end thereof a roller 141 which normally rests upon the circular peripheral surface of the large cam-disk 142 carried at the end of the main-shaft 98 opposite the drive-gear 97. 4- Upon said cam-disk 142 there is a raised portion 143 which is adapted "to lift the cam-roller 141 while passingr beneath the same. and thereby tilt or rock the gage-shaft 133 in a direction such as to raise the gage-fingers away from the table-fingers 20, and to hold the same in raised position While the sheet is carried ofi' the feed-table by the gripper mechanism. Adjoining one end of the raised cam-member 143 there is a slight depressioncr recess'in the body of the cam, andat the side of said .recess there is secured a member 144 having;l a laterally projecting portion ,which overhangs the recess, and of which the. lower edge has the same contouras the bottom of the recess. The overhanging portion of the member 144 constitutes a cam-member which is adapted to engage the roller 141 and press the same downward to cause the above mentioned additional rotative movement of the gageshaft 133 which tends to move the gageiingers below the normal position at which the same engage the table-fingers. On the lower sides of the gage-blocks 132 are secured resilient fingers 145 which are electrically insulated from the gage-blocks. and which extend downwardly and rearwardly therefrom so as to terminate near the lower ends of the gage-Fingers and slightly above the table-fingers 20 when the gage-shaft is in thevnormal position shown in Fig, When the cam-roller 141 is engaged by the member 144 and thereby pushed downwardly from its normal position. the resulting rotation of the gage-shaft moves the fingers 145 down toward the table-lingers 20. so as to mon'ientarily press the same into en- `:Iag'ement with said table-fingers. or. if a paper sheet is resting upon the table with its rear edge against the gage-fingers 12T. to momentarily clamp the sheet between said` fingers 2Q and 14:3. This action is timed to occur just prior to the movement of the gripper mechanism by which tte sheet upon the feed-table is seized. preparatory to beinecarried onto the platen. and the sheet is thus firmly held in raged position at the moment when it is seized by the grippers. The fingers 145 have a secondary or additional iunction. however. besides the holding. or' clampingV of the paper sheets upon the feed table at the moment when the same are about to be seized by the ,grippers Said fingers 145 are electrically insulated from the ragebloclts. as above noted. and are connetcd in parallel in an electrical circuit which is closed by contact of either of the fingers with the respective table-finger over which it is positioned. Obviously. such contact will not occur whenever a ysheet has been fed into proper position against the gage-fingers 12T; at which it is in position tor engagement by the grippers. being' at the same time interposed betwen the fingers 20 and 145. The electrical circuit. in which the tineers 145 are connected. by means hereinafter described. controls the operation of the automatic impression-throw-ott mechanism of the press, and also controls mechanism by which the ZQrippers are prevented from moving to sheet-enginednreY position when a sheet is not in properly gagged position upon the feed-table. f

lt should be noted that the length of the feed-table, from the feed-rollers to the gagefingers, is slightly lgreater than the length of the largest size ot paper sheets with which the mechanism is designed to operate. so that the largest size. ofv sheetl `will have fully passed the feed-rollers before the rear edge thereof will engage the traire-fn g'ers. The sheets are thus moved into contact with the gage-fingers solely by the frictional engagement of the tapes 34 with the upper surfaces of the sheets, and the amount of pressure between the tapes and the. sheets may be varied bV turning the. adiusting' screws 88 to slightly raise or lower the` arms 87 and the rear tape-roller shaft S6 carried by said arms. As said shaft 36 is raised the topes caused to entend diveifgently to the surface oit the tonie, that toi any length oi' sheet :in adjustment muy oe secured such 'that when the veel' edge oi the sheet ieeehes the gege-lingers the topes will engage only the iront portion of the sheet, and will loe pressed thereegninst so lightly es not to he liable to canse vvrinkling ox' buckling 'of the sheet when its fui'thei' reeiwai'd movement is stopped by the gege-lingers yEhe extreme iezti'weid ends' of' the arms 87 support e rod 141 which is slidzihle therein transversely of the feed-table, and n similar iod 111-1' extends through the portions of the arms 8T intermediate the shsit't 85 :ind the edjustinoseiews 88. At the ends edjoiningthe large coni-dish 14191, seid rods 14.-@ and lili' are connected to each other by n plete 148, end. upon the side of smid 'plete there is i'evoluhly inonnted e. .toller 149 adapted tot eng gement with s inemoei 150 which projects inwardly from the side of the Cenidisli 142, adjacent to the pei'ipheiy thereof, es shown in annd oy dotted lines in l. Coil springs 151v :ne disposed mound the rods 1116 and 147 between the plate '141i end the adjacent anni Si', the inner ends seid spi'ings eng-aging the arm and the otite? ends engaging Coll-dts 152 secured on the `rods, said springs serving to hold the cani-toller 1119 yieldingly against the side ot the Cain-dish 1112. in the path of the projecting- :niii-Irieml: ei 150. Stop-collars 153 limit' lateral movement oit the rods, and on the ntemnediote "portions ol the `rods are slidzihly disposed onge-fingers 154C which ore provided with suitable set-screws 155 by .vnioh they may he seemed adjusted positions Upon the rods. The tingeis 154 :ire adopted to e n sheet of peper upon the teedtahle zitter Athe sheet hns been eziii'ied into Contact With 'the gages 12'?, end to move the sheet intel'- elly et the tzihle into piopei side-registei, seid tinzejei's 1511- heinp; adjusted to positions upon the ,ginge-rods ,1116 and 14e? suoi that the sheet will he 'in registei when the gogo rods are pushed farthest inwai'd, or* when the corn-roller ,111-9 is :it the eiest of the eamnernheij- 150. The sheet separating and feeding devices are so arranged, of course, that the sli'eets will he carried onto the 'rear poi-tion of the tnhle with their side edges in o. position inti-n'inediete the limits of travel of the side-gage lingers, und the side-registeringr mmv-ement is so timed as to he completed just 'pi-i01- 'to the Clamping ot the sheet upon the table by the downward movement o1 the resilient contact-lingers 1115.

lieferring nov,r to Figsn, Y und 8, there is mounted '.ipon the gege-shaft 133, adjoining` the Coin-roller arm 140, e sleeve 15G which is pivotzilly movable about seid shaft and within the adjacent bearing-standard 1311, tlneiigh'whieh the sleeve extends. fit

hartige the letei'el edge of neven-ee the innei.` end of seid. sleeve there is secured n, downwardly extending arm 157 having e. 'terminal foot-portion 158 which lies elongside one o'l' the stop-blocks 159 provided for engagementhy the gripper-har 160'to-limit 70 theforwoi'd movement of seid gripper-hai'. The detailed structure end operation of the grippei.' mechanism aire fully set forth in :my ofi-pending application hei'einbefore mentioned., and it will he sulicient herein to state that when the platen 21 is at the delivery position the end-finger oit the grippeohzu' 160 engages the end of the stophloek 159. the gripper 161 being then open,

as shown in Fig. 'l' and that in passing from 80 the delivery position to the feed position the iiiont'edge of the platen is slightly raised relatively to the feed-table, es shownn Fig.

8, the gi'ippeobar then normally moving" forweid so that the end-linger thereon ene shoulder et the upper part of the stop-block 159, and the gi'ippeis being thereeei'iied 'foivvmd and closed to seize the peper sheet upon the feed-table. A spring 162 is disposed around the sleeve 156, oneflo end of the vspring being connected with the sleeve end the othei` end connected with theI heeiing-stzindard 134, es Ashown inFig. 5, and said spi-ing normally .holds the loot 158 in the position shown in Fig. 7. ln the ad-- jacent portion of the side frame-member 17 there is pivotelly mounted :i short shaft 163,

on 'the innei` end of which iseei'iied :in erm 1.6-1- vvhieh extends rearwardly end turns up so es to ziniinute nein the lower Cornet oi"- heel of the foot' 158. n the outei` end of the shaft 163 is en arm 165 oi which the end is 'loilced to sti'addle o pin 167 on the movable core 168 of :i solenoid coil 169 mounted on the fmnie-membei 17, as shown' The m5 core 168 is normally held in raised position hy spring 166 disposed beneath it, :is indieeted, hut when the solenoid is energized the core is pulled down and the arm 164 is reise-d to the position shown hy dotted lines 110 in Fig. 7. 'lhe solenoid 169 is connected in the electrical eirenit which is controlled by the contest-fingers '145, so that the coil is energie/ed when said eireuit is closed hy the engagement of seid fingers 145 with the 115- table-ing'el's 20. Now the downward movement ofisaid contact-fingers, oy which the control-circuit is closed, is timed to occur just pvioi 'to thel movement of the platen 'from tliedelivery position to the feed `posi` tion thereof, and 4during sind movement the end-linger of the gripper-hm' 160 presses against the curved rear edge of the foot 158,

thereby tendingr to move the samejorwardlv 1 to e. position such as shown in Fig. 8. It m5 the control-circuit has been closed., however, and the ai'm 164 thereby raised, seid arm prevents the principal orwei'd movement of the foot 158, the letter merely moving into engegement 4with the arm, es indicated 130 normal lower position is prevented tor such time 'the gripper-har remains in engagernentwith and presses forwardly upon the foot. lltvhen a paper sheet is in proper gaged position upon the leed-table, so as to he interposed hetween the same and the contacttingers .11:1 and prevent closing of the control-circuit through the solenoid 169, the foot 155% and arm 15T are moved forward hy the pressure oi the Aiper-har thereon, to a position such as shown 8, and the resulting rocking movement et the sleeve 156 is utilized for closing the impeller-cluteh circuit, as Jfollows: @n the outer end ot said sleeve 156 ther is secured upwardly extending 1?'0 to which is pivotally connected 'a rod 1?1.'Said rod entends forwardly 'from the` arm, and the front end of the rod islthreaded to receive a sleeve-nut 1752, said nut passing slidahly through the upper end of an arm-173 which is secured upon the outer end of the switch-shaft 108. The sleeye-nutllis adjusted to a position on the` rod .171 such that the arm 173 will be pulled earwardly and 'the switch 107 thereby closed when the 'foot 158 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 8. The parts are retained in the switch-closing position. for only a. very short time, as the gripperhar is moved rearwardly to carry the paper sheet onto the platen immediately after the seizing or' the sheet, and the toot 15o` moves hack to its normal rearward position the rod 171 is moved forwardly. so that the clutch-switch may he immediately opened it released hr the movement ot the Sear 113 as hereinheiore described.

Besides the control oli the solenoid 169, as described. the electrical circuit formed through the contact-lingers 145 is utilized to etlect the operation or" automatic impressiontiirow-ott' mechanism for the printing' press. Referring to Fig. l it will he seen that the press has an iinpression-throw-oil lever 175 piroted upon the press trame, and haring the lower end thereoic connected with the haelt-'shaft 175 hy a suitable train ot mechanism comprising the parts 1T?, 1TB, 179, 180. 181 and 182. The construction and operation of the parts mentioned are fully set forth in my Patent No. 1,360,063, hereinhetore referred to, and it will sufi'ce to here note that when the upper portion of the lever 175 is moved to a position rearward' ot the normal position thereof shown in Fig. 1, the. hack-shaft is thereby rotated and causes the hed to move slightly rearward with reference to the side-arms 1811Which connect the eccentric end-portions of the hack-shaft with the crank-pins 183 from which the principal oscillating movement ot' the bed is derived. the hed heing thus held in such relation to the platen that the latter will not he engaged by the printingforni. rl`he upper portion ot the throw-off lever 'i' extends adjacent to the outer side ot' the large cam-disk 142, the pivot or fulcrum of the lever being below said cam-disk and sligl'itlj.v in 'front ot the center thereof. Adjoining the lever-fulcrum a plate 185 is secured to the .lever and extends rearwardly therefrom, as shown in Figs. l and 13. At-

the lower edge of said plate 185 a cam-plate 186 is pirotally mounted thereon, said carnplate extending across the face of the plate 185 and having at the upper edge thereof a flange 187 which evtends in toward the side ot the cam-disk 142. the forward end of said flange. curving vupwardly as shown. From the piyoted edge ot the'camlate 186 an arm 18d extends in horizontally, and the end of said arm is pivotally connected with the movable core or plunger 189 of a solenoid coil 190 which is carried on fingers 191 extended inwardly from the. lower edge of the plate 185. A spring 192` at" the end of the plunger 189 tends to push the plunger upwardlv and thereby to swing the flanged upper edge otA the cam-plate outwardly from the plate 185. `When the solenoid is energized the pull thereof upon the plunger tends to swing the flanged upper edge of the cam-plate in against the plate 185. or to a position such as shown in Fig. 14. At the rearward edge ot the calli-plate. and adjoining the, flange 187, a. latch 193 is mounted pivotally upon a. pin 191, the latch having a head-portion 195 ot which the upper edge forms a slightly upturned rearward extension ot' the edge of the flange 18T. The opposite end or tail-portion of the latch is engaged hy a spring 196. arranged hctween the latch and the flange 187, said spring tending to push the tail-portion of the latch downwardly. The upper rearward cor er ot" the plate. 185 has a rectangular notclilor recess 'therein through which the latch passes when the cam-plate swings outwardly from the plate 185. Then the Solenoid 190 is energized to more the Cain-plate inwardly to the. position shown in Fig. 1.4, the tailportion of the latch 193 catches behind the inner edge of the plate 185, as shown in Fig. 15. and retains the cam-plate in said position after the solenoid is (le-energized. Then thc cam-plate is in said inner position the flanged upper edge thereof lies in the path of a short roller 197 which is mounted on the side of the cam-disk 142 near the peripheral edge thereof. as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, so that as said cam-disk 142 revolves said roller 197 will engage the cam-flange 187 and vmove the same rearwardly and downwardly, thereby swingingJ the lever 175 to its rearward or oil position. As. the roller 197 passes out of engagement with the camflange 187, it engages the upturned rear poru tion of the latch-head 195, and by pressing thereon releases the latch .from its engagement with the plate 185, thus 'enabling the cam-plate to swing out, from the plate 185 to a position at which the flange 187 is not in the path of the roller 19T. The cani-plate then remains in the outer or inoperative position thereof until the solenoid is again energized to swing the same inwardly to the operative. position thereof. lt will be understood that the solenoid 190 is connected in the same circuit as the solenoid 169, said circuit being closed when either of the contact-lingers 145 engage the tableingers 20. A suitable arrangement of the electrical connect-ions hereinbnlhre mentioned'is shown in Fig. 1"^,. wherein. a source 198 ot electrical energy is shojwri as connected to supply both the inipellenclutchr .circuit and the throw-oli` control circuit,

the various instrumentalities in the two circuits being vindicated diagraunnatially in said figure.

After the lever 1,75 has been moved to the off position as above described. it may be automatically re-set to normal position by means of a re-settiurg cani-plate 199 which is pivoted upon the lever near the upper end thereof. The plate 199 has at thc rear edge thereof an inwardly extendingr flange 200l which is adapted to extend into the path of the roller 197 when the latter is moving forwardly at the upper` portion ot the cam-disk 142, whereby the lever is pushed forwardly to normal position, the movement being; completed just as the roller runs ofi the lower edge Ipt the flange 200. A spring 20,1 is arranged between the camplate 199 and the inner side of the lever U5 and tends to push the cam-plate inwardly. the movement being limited by an adjustingscrew 202, arranged as shown in 12. Should it not be desired to automatically reset, the lever 175 to normal position after each operation of the press in which the ixnression has been thrown olli, the screw Q92 lsturned to puli the cam-plate 199 out toward the lever to a Aposition at. which the Hangs-200 is out of the path ot the roller i9?, regardless of the position et'. the lever 175. When the cam-plate 199 is in the outer or inoperative position, the lever 175 will. of course, remain in, the 'rearward or ott position until it is returned by hand to normal position.

From the foregoing, the operation of the mechanism as a' whole will be clearly parent. l't will. be seen that paper sheets of an size within the capacity ot' the press may automatically separated and fed te the occasional renewal of the pile of paper von the follower, and the 'removal of the printed sheets from the paper receiver. It will be seen further that to adapty the mechanism for use with sheets of different size, the necessary adjustments are simple, and easily and quickly made, being such as to require no special skill or training of the prcssman, and mainly involving` merely the setting of the guides and gages 4according to the size of the sheets to be fed. 4

rl`he completely auton'iatic 'operation of the press is made possible by the interdependent control-mechanism, by which, if a sheet upon the Jr'eed-table is not carried into position beneath each oit' the contact-tingers llo. thus not being in propel' position for seizure by the grippers, the latter are prevented Jfrom taking: the improperly positioned sheet. the impression throw-o mech# anism is operated to prevent the next succeeding contact of the platen with the printing-form carried by the bed, and the closingA ol the impellerclutch switch is pre" vented, so that a second sheet cannot be carried onto the feed-table. lf, during the succecdinrgr cycle ot' operation of thet press mechanism. the-sheet upon the feed-talole should be carried down to the gages 127 so as to bc beneath each of the contaeblingers 145. th'en the sheet will be seized by the grippcrs and the normal operatiouot the mechm anism resumed, the throw-oil lever having been re-sct to normal position after preventing one impression, and the impeller-clutch switch beineclosed by the movement of the gripper-mechanism to the sheet-engaging position thereof.

Now, having described my invention, what l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A Sheetseparating mechanism comprising means for sustaining,- a pile of sheets, impelliugr-rollers engaging the top of the pile and movable in iixed paths parallel therewith, and `vielding means maintaining a substantially constant pressure between the impelliug-rollers and the sheets, whereby to torm progressive waves in the portion of the pile adjacent to said impelling-rollers.

ln a sheet-separating mechanism, the combination with sheet-impelling means cugageablc with a pile of sheets and movable in a lined planeto form progressing waves therein, of means for yieldingly pressing a. pile ot sheets toward said sheet-impelhng means, whereby, as the pile is diminished by. removal ot sheets therefrom, to maintain the top of the pile uniformly in Contact with said impcllingg means.

3. The method ot separating' sheets disposed in a pile, consisting;r in pressing freely revohible rollers ente the top of the pile, whereby te compress the same along transi' so verse lines, and moving the rollers in a fixed plane parallel with the normal surface of the sheets, whereby the compressed areas form advancing waves in the pile, tending to move the successive sheets by amounts inversely proportional to their depth in the pile. 4. In a mechanism for separating and feeding sheets from a pile, the combination with impelling means movable in a fixed plane parallel with the sheets, of a movable follower supporting the pile, means for yieldingly actuatingr the follower yto constantly press the sheets against the impelling means, and means for adjusting the follower-actuating means to proportion the force thereof to the load upon the follower.

5. In a mechanism of the class described, a movable follower arranged to support a pile of sheets, actuating means constantly tending to lift lthe follower, the lifting tendency thereof varying uniformly during the travel of the follower from a maximum at the lower limit to a minimum at the upper limit of travel, and means for disp acing sheets from the top of the pile at a constant level thereof, the sheet-displacing means constituting a sto to maintain the top of the pile in a Iixe plane.

6. In a mechanism of the class described, a movable follower arranged to support a pile of sheets, means for displacing sheets from the top of the pile at a constant level thereof, actuating means constantly tending to lift the follower with a force varying from a maximum at the lower limit to a minimum at the upper limit of travel, and. means for varying the effective force of the actuating means at the lower limit of travel without altering the force eective at the upper limit.

7. In a`mechanism of the class described, a follower adapted to sustain a pile of sheets and movable between limits spaced equally to the height of the pile, an actuating spring, means connecting the spring and the follower whereby stress of the spring is increased uniformly by downward movement of the follower and decreased during upward movement thereof, and means for adjusting said connecting means to vary the ratio of the follower-movement to the spring-stress but maintainingl a constant springstress at the upper limit of the followermovement- 8. In a mechanism of the class described, a follower adapted to sustaima pile of sheets and movable betweenhlimits 'spaced equally to the height of the pile, an actuating spring, means connecting the spring and the follower whereby stress of the spring is increased and decreased uniformly by downward and upward movement respectively of the follower, means for adjusting said connecting means to vary the ratio of folupon the follower beneath the sheets and opposite the impelling-rollers, whereby the latter may continue the formation of waves in the sheets when the depth of the pile is less than the normal depth of the wavee formation therein.

l0. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a follower adapted to sustain s diminishing pile of sheets with the limpelling-rollers, and a resilient member" top of the pile at a uniform level, of waveforming sheet-impelling means constantly engaging the top of the pile and thereby constituting a stop to limit upward movement of the pile, said means adapted to separate single sheets from the top of the pile by displacing the sheets edgewise therefrom, means for successively carrying the displaced sheets away from the pile, means for actuating the sheet-impelling means, and means for stopping said actuating means when a definite displacement of the sheet has been edected.

ll. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a follower adapted to sustain a diminishing pile of sheets with the top of the pile at a uniform level, of wave-forming sheet-inipelling means constantly engaging the top of the pile and constituting a sto to limit upward movement of the pile, said means adapted to separate single sheets from the top of the pile by displacing the sheets edgewise therefrom, means for successively car ing the displaced sheets away from the pille, a feed-table onto which the sheets are con veyed by the. carrying means, gripping means for seizing the sheets upon they feedtable and removing the same therefrom, means for actuating the sheet-impelling7 means, means for stopping said actuating means when a definite displacement of the sheet has been effected, and means actuated by the gripping means for starting the actuation of the sheet-impelling means.

12. In a mechanism of the class described, a movable follower, means for counterbalancing the fixed weight of the follower, means for counterbalancing a variable load upon the follower and automatically proportioning the counterbalance to said load, and sheetimpeiling means engageable with :ser

the top of a pile ofsheets upon the follower and constitutingthe sole limit to upward movement thereof, `said sheet-impelling` means adapted to serially displace the sheets laterally from the pile. i

13. In a mechanism of the class described, a movable follower, counterbalancin means therefor variable y uniformly during the travel thereof between'maximum and minimum values at the lower` and upper limits of movement. thereof respectively, and sheetimpelling means engageable at a constant level with the top ot' a pile of sheets upon the follower.

14. In a mechanism of the class described, a movable follower, guiding and supporting means therefor, gearing mounted upon the follower and engageable with the supporting means to raise and lower the ollower thereon, and actuating means for said gearing including a spring, a lever connected therewith andv movable thereby toward 'anormal position at which the spring is under a minimum stress, and tulcruming means for said lever movable longitudinally thereof to var the stress of the spring at all positions o the lever except the normal.

15. In a mechanism of the class described, sheet-impelling means comprising freely revoluble rollers movable in a rectilinear path transverse to the axes thereof, and means for pressing against said rollers a terasse pile of sheets disposed parallel with the .y path ot travel thereof.

16. ln a mechanism of the class described, sheet-impelling means comprising a central member revoluble about a fixed axis, a series of arms pivoted upon said central member, guide-rollers and sheet-engaging rollers carried at the outer portions of said arms, and stationary treclr-formingmembers engaged oy said guide-rollers and .adapted to direct the same in a eircuitous path about the axis of the central member, said path having a rectilinear cliordal portion.

17. ln a mechanism of the class described, a follower adapted to support a pile of sheets and movable to maintain the top of the pileat 'a uniform level while sheets are successively removed 'thereform. freely revoluble rollers limiting upward move ment of the follower by engaging the top et the pile of sheets thereon, means for moving the roller-axes in a fixed plane `parallel with the normal plane of the sheets to displace the same laterally :from the pile, means for seizing the successively displaced sheets and pulling the same from beneath said rollers, and means for inhibiting movement of sheets from the pile, said means arranged to be engegeeble only with sheets which have not been displaced suiciently to be seized by the pulling means.

' EDWARD-T. WATERS. 

